Uniquely Loved

Even in today’s difficult and uncertain financial climate, many Americans will still enjoy the richness of Christmas traditions, from singing carols to attending candlelight church services. We will visit family, wrap gifts, and fellowship over Christmas dinner.

Yet across the world, more than 143 million orphaned and at risk children wonder how they will survive another year.  Behind each statistic is a child uniquely loved by the Lord.  He knows their fears, their sufferings as well as their hopes and dreams.  These are children like Natasha in Russia, Dasan in India, and Kevin in Honduras.

Eighteen-year-old Natasha, who spent most of her life in a Russian orphanage, will have to face some sobering challenges as she leaves the orphanage alone. Approximately 40 to 50% of Russia’s 700,000 orphan graduates fall prey to drugs, crime, or prostitution. Ten percent become so desperate that they take their own lives. Orphan Outreach is walking alongside many of these children as they leave the orphanages.  Our ministry provides education, basic needs, and discipleship mentors from local churches so graduates like Natasha can acquire practical, emotional, and spiritual skills needed to lead meaningful lives beyond the orphanage.

India is home to 2 million orphans with AIDS—Orphan Outreach is focusing its efforts on establishing Christian schools in impoverished regions as well as supporting ministries such as Santvana Home in Pune which cares for 26 children affected by the AIDS crisis. Last year, one of the children, seven-year-old Dasan, died of AIDS. As much as this grieved us, we praised the Lord because Dasan had become a believer in Christ while at the home.  Most of the children have accepted Christ and through their faith many of their family members have come to the Lord as well.  

Ten-year-old Kevin desperately rummages through a Honduran city dump every day, searching for food to feed his mother and siblings.  More than 300 children work alongside him. They face abuse, exposure to disease, injury and even death.  Orphan Outreach has partnered with the Amor, Fe y Esperanza (Love, Faith and Hope) school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to provide hope for children just like Kevin. More than 150 children attend the school, and receive a Christian education, healthy meals, vocational training  and most of all hope in Christ and hope for a brighter future.

These children and so many more represent the ministry of Orphan Outreach.  It is your love and generosity that make it possible for our ministry to make a real difference in their lives and fulfill the Lord’s mandate to care for the orphan (James 1:27).

I ask you to prayerfully consider giving a gift that reaps eternal rewards in the lives of these precious children. As a new ministry in these difficult financial times, we need your gift more than ever.

I pray God will richly bless you and your family during our celebration of Christ’s birth.  Thank you for prayerfully considering a gift that will give hope to the children we serve. 

Sincerely,

Mike Douris

President, Orphan Outreach